CARABELLE      CHEONG
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The Atelier of Shadows




Paintings 绘. 水墨

This series explores the story of Hang Li Po through ink on rice paper. Using splash techniques and expressive brushwork, each piece captures fragments of emotion—displacement, grace, and quiet resilience. The materials echo the fragility of her journey, while every stroke holds a part of her untold history.



Promises Under the Magnolia Tree
50cm x 61cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold Ink




The Unbeatable Beast
60cm x 23cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold Ink




This is the story of the side character of these series: Hang Lekiu and Yue-er. Both imperial servants fall in love with each other. Their love is pure and blessed by the fairy mouse deer, the rain and heaven.The mouse deer is a symbolic spiritual animal in the founding of Melaka — a creature whose clever defiance marked the beginning of a new realm. According to local legend, while resting under the shade of a tree—believed to be the Melaka tree (Phyllanthus emblica, or Indian gooseberry) Parameswara witnessed a peculiar encounter: a mouse deer (kancil) cornered by his hunting dogs. To his amazement, the small creature did not cower. Instead, it kicked one of the dogs into a nearby river and escaped. Struck by the courage and intelligence of the mouse deer, Parameswara took it as a good omen—a symbol of resistance, resilience, and spiritual fortitude. He declared, "This is a good place to start a kingdom." He named the place Melaka, after the tree that gave him shelter during this fateful moment. This event symbolized more than just the naming of a city—it marked the birth of a new political and cultural epicenter, destined to become one of the greatest maritime empires in Southeast Asia. From this small yet symbolic beginning, Melaka grew into a thriving port city, strategically located along the Straits of Malacca, connecting East and West. Under the Melaka Sultanate, it became a melting pot of cultures, attracting traders from China, India, Arabia, and Europe, and spreading Islam throughout the region.

Once upon a time, there goes a tiger (Malaysia’s national animal), rampaging through the heart of the village, destroying what is domestic and familiar. The white dots scattered across the painting represent the silent bloodshed, the invisible wounds left in its path. While the image is concerning, it also serves as a reflection: those with status and power, like the tiger, move freely, unchecked. Meanwhile, the villagers — the common people — remain passive, unable to choose their own destiny. They watch, endure, and survive, caught in a system that was never built for their freedom







儷靌殿。满刺加
Old name of Melaka
59.4 cm x 42 cm
Materials: Handmade Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold




Upon the arrival of Hang Li Po with her 500 maidens. Sultan Mansur Shah provided a hill 
as their settlement, now known as Bukit Cina, as a gift to his new bride, Princess Hang Li Po,
in the mid-15th century. Permaisuri Onang Sari (under the blue umbrella) just in time to visit
the newly built architecture, which the Sultan has informed to build as similar as possible to the
Forbidden City Palace. Puteri Galoh Candra bowed before the queen and was ready to fullfill
 her duty by giving Li Po an orientation on all the Adat Istiadat Kesultanan Melaka.



Arrival of the Princess of Hang Li Po
61cm x 35cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink




Imagination of Chinese Ming dynasty princess who defied societal norms and 
embraced love in the 15th century of Kesultanan Malacca with Sultan Mansur Shah.


Garden of New Beginning


61cm x 35cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold Ink

梳妆 Morning Dressing

61cm x 35cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold Ink


Hang Li Po’s Garden

60 cm x 23 cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Gold Ink, Chinese Ink

In the heart of the tropics, the garden bursts with life — a tapestry of vibrant flora drawn from many lands, just like the people who tend it. Fragrant frangipani, fiery hibiscus, and towering banana leaves grow side by side, mirroring the blend of cultures that have long rooted here. This garden is more than beauty; it is a symbol of new beginnings — where diversity flourishes, histories intertwine, and every seed tells a story of resilience, migration, and renewal beneath the tropical sun.

In this delicate ink and watercolor painting, Puteri Hang Li Po is depicted gracefully walking through a blooming garden, choosing flowers to prepare traditional makeup — a ritual of beauty and refinement. She is surrounded by an elegant blend of Malay inang court ladies and Chinese maidens, each figure captured in fluid brushstrokes that celebrate the cultural harmony of the Melakan court. The cherry blossoms above and the soft tropical grasses below symbolize both the blossoming of new beginnings and the fusion of two great civilizations — a serene portrait of diplomacy, femininity, and shared rituals across cultures.

Capturing Puteri Hang Li Po’s intimate morning ritual, combing her hair, applying cosmetics, 
and preparing herself for the day ahead, reflecting both her grace and her growing role in a new court.


Farewell

61 cm x 35 cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink, Gold Ink


永别 Farewell :

千日备
月照愁
梦此生
惹云怜
夜鸣歌
化作风
飘相思

Berpisah ngan darah Han selamanya,
Takdirnya untuk hubungan diplomatik,
Harapan bintang,
Lindungan bulan,
Serahkan nasib pada Tanah Melaka.


Art Imitates Life, Life Imitates Chaos

60 cm x 23 cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Gold Ink, Chinese Ink




Wayang Kepadaman Damar: Life in the palace is a whirlwind 
of uncertainty, challenges, and political intrigue. Each day 
brings new obstacles to overcome and unforeseen 
complications to navigate. Just like the story been played 
by the ‘wayang kulit‘, trust is a rare commodity, 
and even the closest allies may harbor hidden motives.



Keturunan (Generation)

80 cm x 43 cm
Materials: Rice Paper, Chinese Ink



The important characters in this series
Family tree of Sultan Mansur Shah.

Left to right: (Raja Ahmad) Putera Muhammad Shah, Puteri Ratu Mahadewi, 
(Raja Hussain) Putera Alauddin-Riayat-Shah, Raden Galoh Candra Kirana, 
Puteri Hang Li Po, Permaisuri Onang Seri, Sultan Mansur Shah





Ceramic 陶艺
Ceramics have been part of human life for a very long time. In the past, they were used not just for daily needs or decoration, but also as valuable items for trade. Each piece could show us something about the people and culture it came from.







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